The EU has launched a formal probe into Google after monitoring suggested that some sponsored or advertiser-linked content may have been pushed lower in Google Search, reducing its visibility. The investigation will assess whether Alphabet's practices harm publishers' ability to operate, innovate and earn revenue, and whether Google complies with the Digital Markets Act. Google says the inquiry is "misguided" and points to a German court ruling that upheld its anti-spam policy. EU officials will invite publishers to submit evidence of traffic and revenue impacts.
EU Launches Probe into Google Over Alleged Demotion of News Publishers in Search
The EU has launched a formal probe into Google after monitoring suggested that some sponsored or advertiser-linked content may have been pushed lower in Google Search, reducing its visibility. The investigation will assess whether Alphabet's practices harm publishers' ability to operate, innovate and earn revenue, and whether Google complies with the Digital Markets Act. Google says the inquiry is "misguided" and points to a German court ruling that upheld its anti-spam policy. EU officials will invite publishers to submit evidence of traffic and revenue impacts.
12:52 AM, 11/14/2025Technology
European Commission opens inquiry into Google's search practices
The European Union has opened a formal investigation into Google amid concerns that the company may be downgrading content from news organisations and other media sites in Google Search, making sponsored or advertiser-linked material less visible or absent from results for some queries.
The commission said its monitoring found examples where certain sponsored or advertiser-affiliated content was given lower priority in search results. Officials are now probing whether Alphabet, Google's parent company, has been demoting publisher pages and whether such practices could harm publishers' ability to operate, innovate and cooperate with third-party content providers.
What the EU is examining
Teresa Ribera, the European Commission's executive vice-president for a clean, just and competitive transition, said the inquiry will check whether Google’s rules prevent news publishers from being treated in a "fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory" way in Search. "We will investigate to ensure that news publishers are not losing out on important revenues at a difficult time for the industry, and to ensure Google complies with the Digital Markets Act," she said.
The probe will examine compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which requires large online platforms designated as "gatekeepers" to provide fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory access conditions to publishers' websites in Search.
Google's response
Google called the investigation "misguided" and "without merit," arguing that its anti-spam measures are intended to protect users and the quality of search results. Company representatives said a German court had previously dismissed a similar claim, finding their anti-spam policy valid, reasonable and consistently applied.
Google added that its policies are designed to deliver trustworthy results and to combat deceptive pay-for-play tactics that can degrade search quality. The company also warned that a probe into its anti-spam efforts could risk harming millions of European users.
Context and next steps
The European Commission earlier fined Google more than $3 billion in a separate case concerning alleged anti-competitive practices in advertising technology. That enforcement action drew strong reactions from U.S. officials at the time.
EU officials say they will invite publishers to submit evidence showing any impact on website traffic or revenue that they attribute to Google's practices. The commission's inquiry will determine whether Google must change its policies or practices to comply with the DMA and to preserve fair competition and publishers' revenues.
Henna Virkkunen, the commission's executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, security and democracy, said the DMA aims to "ensure fairer markets and innovation" and to stop digital gatekeepers from unfairly restricting businesses that rely on them.